, 1887-12-01
Annual Report Of the Postmaster
General.
The Department In the Most
FlOurishing Condition.
The Service Promises TO be Self
Sustaining Next Year.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-Thc postmaster.
general in his annual report for the fiscal
year. ending June 3Oth says: "The expec-
tation ufthe growth and Improvements in
the affairs of the postal service inuu'ged IN
i'm previous reports has been realized dur
ing the past year. The revenues gained up
on the preceding year by nearly Si,S1OOUO
attaining a height never reached before,
despite restrictive operation of various re-
ductions in rates of postage. study OF econ
oiny has not been without effect in restrain
ing the necessarily rising scale of expend-
ture, SO that the increase Of cash disbuTse-
ments has but little overt0pped 81 900 600,
thus the deficiency charged upon the gencr-
ul treasury. which two years since was u
round $70O0,000 and year ago about SO.
600 less, has been reduced almost three
sevenths, while the fair augury from our
present circumstance es give hope that dur.
ing the current year IT Will nearly
disappear. From begging the current fiscal
year the postal service will again become
substantially selEsustaining, and the pre-
dictiUn will be Sentured, II the revenues be
not futher crippled the next fiscal year vii
yield surplus, which should udder the
same conditions annually increase.
The postmaster general recommends the
establishment OF correct system for ap.
proximating "a uniform organ zation and
division of buildings for postoilices in com.
munities of such size as to require an office
independent of private affairs. The extern
sion and perfection of the system OF free
delivery, until all communities enjoy tue
privileges, which are so situated as to make
1t their due. The thorough reformation of
the system of employing aud paying for
railroad transportation. The establishment
of fadditionai fast mail service until trunk
lines of mail companies are so provided.
provision for instruction and exaini nation
of persons for appointment in railroad
mail service. The enlargement OF the for
eign parcel post system recently entered up
on 50 as to embrace all countries, the trade
of which would be advantageous to our
people, and the addition of some auxilIaries
to- the means of postal convenience calcu.
lated to enhance the utility OF the service to
the people.
Tie excess Of expenditures of the depart.
ment over revenue WAS 50 4o0, lO3. Total
number of pustoilices July lst was 55,177,
besides Gl3 branch offices. A proper COM
pensatiun of pustiuasters still presses upon
the attention Of the department aud appears
to justly demand further consideration by
congress. There is more or less confusion
AS the statutes now stand with the provision
of clerical force tor such offices as require
more personal service than the postmaster
alone can properly manage. This tending
to relative injustice between postnIasters
has excited much discomfort, aud III part
stimulated their association u unitedly
present to congress their opinion and
claims. ....
Observation and experience has convinced
the pustmaster-general that the govern
ment should build its postotiies separately
and solely tor postal uses; that they should
be built in every city or town where the
magnitude OF the service warrants an indie
pendent office, although from time to
time only, as the surplus revenues of the
service will warrant. Appropriation for
clerks in postoilices during the past year
was inadequate tn the increase OF business
and caused a deficiency OF over $3.50, ,0OO
M AZ "A
preparation be made to the deficiency and
also that the salaries OF postmasters be
equalized.
The money order service has continued
o increase in value during the past year,
The amount in the aggregate of domestic
orders reaching up to $ll7462. .66O. Total
cost-Sf mail transportation during the year,
$50 354, S2S, IA little over 1000 miles has been
added to the rail system during the year,
part OF which is the system from Kansas
City to southwestern California. NotwIth' |
standing IL considerable increase in the Star |
route service necessary to the rising de-
mlnds ut the country, the actua! decrease |
in expenses between the last year and the !
year ending June 30, 1885, was 1888, ,Go9.
The reduction On the cost of the fiscal ear |
of 1886 was more because of considerable |
increase OF expenditure put upon that year
by contracts previously made The post |
master. general believes that about one |
million and half dollars might be saved |
preparation for the purchase of postal
ears.
The department Is recently in receipt Of |
a petition signed by prominent merchants,
i'm mporters aud bankers who deal with for |
eign countries requesting its good offices to |
assist in inducing the postal administra.
GVns of Europe and foreign governments |
which dispatch direct mail to the United |
States to adopt u similar policy and send
their mails hither by the swiitest vessels
departing from their ports, irrespective of
the flags under which they sail and suitable
action has been taken to invite considera-
tion of the subject by foreign postal admin
lstratiOus, Other routes of carriage have
|een chiefly in American steamships at
Dhree fold higher rates of sea and inland
postage, although no foreign vessal has hes.
itated TO accept whatever mails were of
fered.
In reference to postal convention with
Mexico the report says the di ference in
currency values oil the two republics hinders
largely the tull ENJOYMENT of exchanges
under this treaty and with view to relieve
this Inconvenience negotiations have been
begun | ooking to the conclusion of !
a money order convention which Will en-
able the transmission OF purchasing funds
between the countries. The advantages to
both countries from such further arrange
Ments are so manifest and considerable in
other points Of view beside the conveniences
of trade alone as to justify REASONABLE ex-
pectation of their easily establishment. Pos
tai conventions have also been arranged
with Jamaica and Barbados and negotia-
tipps for smaller arrangements are now In
'y.7gress with various Central and South
american states.
Estimates for the ensuing year arc made
as follows: lA' t /
Ordinary postal revenue, $56sl, TAG; rev.
DHe from money order busines, $3.50, 500;
Vtal gross receipts for the year ending June